From the moment First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt walked into the American Association for the United Nations office and asked for something to do all the way through today, UNA-USA has been making an impact and telling the UN’s story to Americans. This timeline is a look at some of the most historic moments from the UN and UNA-USA’s history.
For 70 years, UNA-USA has been the leader in informing, inspiring, and mobilizing the American people in support of the ideals and vital work of the United Nations – and we’re having an impact in the 21st century that lives up to our rich history.
George W. Wickersham, Attorney General of the United States under President William H. Taft, and John H. Clarke, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (appointed by President Woodrow Wilson) form the League of Nations Non-Partisan Association, predecessor to the American Association for the United Nations (AAUN).
The AAUN, UNA-USA's predecessor organization, grew from the League of Nations Association.
The first AAUN Chapter is founded in the San Fernando Valley.
The League of Nations Non-Partisan Association officially changes its name to the American Association for the United Nations two months before the UN is created. Executive Director Clark Eichelberger represents AAUN at the UN Charter drafting conference in San Francisco.
The Council of Organizations was founded by a group of organizations called by President Harry Truman to advise the US Delegates to the UN charter writing convention.
President Harry Truman, along with representatives from 50 other countries, signed the UN Charter in San Francisco, California.
AAUN coordinates the first UN Week, October 22-28.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt personally helped prepare the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first document considered to have international normative value.
AAUN inaugurates a guided tour service for visitors to the UN. The Honorable Robin C. Duke, former UNA-USA board member, conducts the first tour.
After First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt completed her term as a U.S. Representative to the UN General Assembly, she established an office at the association's headquarters.
The AAUN Executive Committee calls on the UN to hold Egypt accountable to its international obligations following the end of the Suez War.
AAUN holds its first Biennial Convention. Representatives from UNA-U.S.S.R attend.
UN We Believe is founded, which will later be renamed as the Business Council for the United Nations (BCUN).
AAUN holds its first Global Leadership Dinner to bring together policymakers, diplomats, UN supporters, business leaders, and celebrities to call attention to the vital role the UN plays in helping the global community advance peace, prosperity and justice and to honor individuals and corporations for their global leadership in advancing UN causes.
Seventeen newly independent States, 16 from Africa, join the UN -the biggest increase in membership in any one year.
Mrs. Roosevelt was elected chairwoman of the board.
Robert S. Benjamin is named national chairman of the U.S. Committee for the UN.
UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold is killed in an airplane crash.
UN Secretary-General U Thant is widely credited for having defused the Cuban Missile Crisis by interceding between U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev, thereby avoiding a nuclear war.
The association merged with the U.S. Committee for the United Nations, a group of 138 national organizations supporting the work of the UN, thereby creating the United Nations Association of the United States of America.
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
UNA-USA creates the student organization, Council on International Relations and UN Affairs.
General Assembly approves Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and calls for its ratification.
U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Arthur J. Goldberg becomes UNA-USA Chairman.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is created after a recommendation by a UNA-USA panel, chaired by John D. Rockefeller III.
Former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Earl Warren becomes UNA-USA Chairman.
The Washington, D.C. office of UNA-USA is established. UNA-USA donates a townhouse at 3 Sutton Pl. NW to the UN to serve as the Secretary-General’s residence.
The first UN Environment Conference is held in Stockholm, Sweden, leading to the establishment of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi.
Editor Fredrick Eckhard, who eventually would become spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan from 1997-2005, launches The InterDependent.
UNA-USA takes its first policy position in opposition to the UN’s Zionism is Racism resolution.
Former U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN William Scranton becomes UNA-USA Chairman.
General Assembly adopts the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, covering political, economic, social, cultural and civic values.
A 13-year effort by the UN's World Health Organization resulted in the complete eradication of smallpox in 1980 — saving an estimated $1 billion a year in vaccination and monitoring.
UNA-USA’s National Policy Panel Report U.S.-Soviet Relations: A Strategy for the ‘80s is the first foreign policy report presented to the Reagan Administration.
The U.S. withdraws from UNESCO.
UNA-USA efforts avert a U.S. threat not to pay its UN dues. The association helps push through significant reforms, and the Reagan administration pledges full funding for the UN by the end of the year.
UN Peacekeeping operations awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, at the time there were seven peacekeeping or observer missions in operation.
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John C. Whitehead becomes UNA-USA Chairman.
UNA-USA launches its Occasional Papers Series.
UNA-USA establishes a campus network.
The UN Conference on Environment and Development, the "Earth Summit", is held in Rio de Janeiro attended by leaders from over 100 countries, the largest intergovernmental gathering in history, resulting in Agenda 21, a plan of action for sustainable development.
The World Conference on Human Rights is held in Vienna, which commemorated the International Year for the World's Indigenous People (1993).
UNA-USA signs on to U.S. and international campaigns to ban landmines.
The General Assembly adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. This is a turning point in the history of efforts towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The treaty was opened for signature on September 24.
Media mogul Ted Turner announces his plan to donate $1 billion to the UN and UN causes at UNA-USA’s Global Leadership Dinner. The donation leads to the creation of the United Nations Foundation.
UNA-USA and Seton Hall University forms a partnership to establish the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University to advance the study of contemporary global issues. The school's alliance with UNA-USA has led to an innovative curriculum that combines academic study with the opportunity to experience firsthand multilateral diplomacy.
UNA-USA launches its first website.
Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM) was created by UNA-USA to engage American civil society in mine action.
Global Classrooms Model UN launches. Established to help prepare students in underserved communities, Global Classrooms teaches students to be global citizens by developing literacy skills including the ability to read critically and communicate effectively in writing.
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